Trump appoints Stephen Miller as White House chief of staff

Stephen Miller will replace Susie Wiles as White House chief of staff, President Trump announced on Friday. The president made the announcement after Republicans lost control of power in the midterm elections held earlier this week. Miller, who currently serves as deputy chief of staff, will assume the top role on Monday.

Trump described Miller as a long-time ally in remarks to reporters. "Stephen's been with me since the beginning. He gets it," the president said. The new chief of staff has worked in Trump's orbit since 2016. He has focused heavily on immigration policy and has also advised on military operations in the Middle East. He is known for his aggressive rhetorical style and frequently appears in the background during Oval Office media events.

Susie Wiles served as chief of staff from the start of the current administration. She previously worked on Trump's 2020 campaign in Florida. Wiles built a reputation for strict management, which helped reduce staff turnover and press leaks compared to the first term. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Wiles would continue to work on political operations. In a statement on X, Wiles said she was proud of the administration's achievements in border security, taxes, and the economy. She added that her commitment to the mission would remain unchanged.

The leadership change follows a week in which voters supported Democrats in part due to dissatisfaction with the administration's aggressive immigration enforcement. Miller has been the primary architect of these policies. He has remained unapologetic about the crackdowns, which have been popular with Trump's core voting base. In his new position, Miller is expected to exercise greater influence over the president's schedule and access to information.

Wiles shared personal insights in a Vanity Fair profile last year. She described Trump as having an alcoholic's personality and said she was accustomed to such temperaments. "I make a speciality of it," she told journalist Chris Whipple. Wiles was diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year. Officials announced in the fall that she was cancer free.

David Cohen, a political science professor at the University of Akron, explained the weight of the new role. He noted that the chief of staff acts as a gatekeeper for the president's time and information. Cohen said the role is meant to be a neutral broker so all voices are heard. However, he added that the chief of staff is often the last person speaking to the president before decisions are made.